I rarely leave a restaurant completely satisfied and with a smile on my face. My belly was so full when I finished eating that I had to relax before I could get up to walk to my vehicle; which was basically parked at the door. I was stuffed. Probably overstuffed. The outcome here was a total surprise to me and my co-worker Sonya when we took our first bites from our respective food trays that they serve the food on.

Like a lot of restaurants and eateries, I learned of Bad Brad’s on social media and I was immediately interested because of the photos that were posted of delicious looking food. Of course I followed them right away. I really wanted to keep up with what they were doing and when they were doing it. And, now I think I have had my eye on this place for at least 6 months and I decided that I was going to see “Brad” this month; more specifically, this past weekend.

Juicy Smoked Chicken Wings

I probably had looked at the menu once or twice when I initially followed them on “The Gram“. But, this week leading up to my foodie visit I looked again and again. That menu is huge. A huge menu to me is rarely a good sign to me. But, I could tell that they had it together and this time a large menu was a positive thing. Almost everything on the menu had barbecue involved somehow. Ribs, Chicken, Brisket, Shredded Pork and Chicken, Pizza, Nachos, Fries, Chili and Chowder were all infused with something to do with smoked meats or a BBQ sauce. I could not decide on what I was going to order because I wanted to try almost everything! Even the things I don’t want to eat on any other occasion I wanted to try at Brad’s.

We made it to Bad Brad’s on a misty and cold Saturday afternoon. It was not a bad drive from Flint and only 20-25 minutes from Grand Blanc. We got off the express way and encountered a traffic jam right on Baldwin Rd due to road construction going north bound towards the restaurant. There was no wait when got there and we sat right down. When entering the doors you will notice that the ambiance in the restaurant is a modern, rustic blend. It was very pleasing to my eyes. The guy and girl servers were dressed in green camo apparel as if they were out hunting. It all seemed to work together.

Perfect Sweet Potato Mash

Our server Trevor came right over to introduce us to the restaurant and gave us overview of what they were about when it came to cooking. He highlighted that everything there was made from scratch and then educated us on the different bbq sauces they had to accompany the smoked meats available on the menu. All of the sauces were centerpieces on the table so that you could try them on all during your meal.

Pig Candy

Finally we were ready to order! My friend Sonya went first but, we had both decided that we each wanted to get and order of the BBQ TRIO which included 2 bones of St. Louis style ribs, 2 nice size Chicken Wings and, 3 slices of Pig Candy. Ok y’all, when I tell you that the meat on the ribs was oh so tender, BELIEVE ME THEY ARE. They were perfectly seasoned not too much and not too little. I didn’t use any sauce. I didn’t need it and I wasn’t interested once I had taken a bite. The chicken wings were the same way except, I tasted more seasoning and smoke in the chicken even more mouthwateringly delicious. Last but not least in the trio was the Pig Candy. When I first read Pig Candy on the menu I thought to myself, Oh that’s a cute name” and fitting because the bacon is cooked/smoked with sugar and bit of chipotle powder and then turned into what must be sweet pork pieces. But, bacon is bacon. I love bacon, I will eat in anytime so, just bring it on…. And, what a surprise I got when I tasted this bacon!! It tasted just like candy!!! It was definitely bacon but after being marinated in the sugar/chipotle blend and then smoked it was made it to a wonderful sticky delight. For this bacon a little goes a long way so share with your friends and family.

Fall off the bones Meaty Ribs

Sonya sides included the Bad Brad’s Pit Beans, Sweet Cornbread and the Collard Greens that were dotted with Black Eyed Peas. She could not stop raving about the greens. She said she knows there has to be some southern roots back there in that kitchen. My co-worker was just as pleased as I was with her meal. We both agreed to wear clothing with elastic in the waist the next time we return.

Sweet with a spicy kick Cornbread

I was also impressed with the side dishes I had ordered. I was stumped there too but, lucky for me they had a Side Sampler which included any 3 sides. I got 4, Fries, Coleslaw, Sweet Potato Mash and Cornbread. So, I always have to know how the French Fries are wherever I go and the fries did not disappoint here. I wanted more fries. The Coleslaw reminded me of the coleslaw my Grandmother used to make when my mother would barbecue. They gave me plenty of that, enough for leftovers. Next I tried the Sweet Potato Mash. There was no description on the menu so I was not sure if this dish was a savory mash or sweet mash. I learned upon its arrival at my table that it was a perfect mash. When I asked Trevor what was in the side dish he wasn’t sure but he did find out for me. He let me know that it was cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, salt & pepper. I agreed to try it and when it came to the table I mixed in the spot of sweetened butter that was intended for my cornbread. I hadn’t even tried the sweet mash yet. But, when I did….It was a winner. It was again perfectly seasoned; not too sweet, not too savory. I could taste definite sweetness but the little taste of saltiness balanced it right on out. I wanted more of this too. The perfect mix into this outrageous meal was the Oh So Sweet Cornbread that is sprinkled with pieces of hot pepper throughout and is baked in a the form of a small round disk as if it was baked in a tiny cast iron skillet. I didn’t know if this was a side or dessert. It really didn’t matter though. I should have got one for each course.

The one thing I knew for sure before I got there is that I was going to get the dessert of SugarDonuts that is served with a trio of sauces. But, after that meal of meals, there was no way I could think about dessert. That festival of food that landed at my table had me finished for the day. I may just have to work my way backwards next time if I plan to make it to dessert.

Coleslaw like my Grandmother’s

Bad Brad’s is taking the Culinary and Barbecue industry to school and I learned all about it on Saturday. Check out Bad Brad’s BBQ menu and let me know how you like it when you go!

I had to take some Sweet Potato Mash Home!

]]>https://mouthfuloffood.com/2018/10/31/oh-i-definitely-want-seconds-at-bad-brads-bbq/feed/1img_1184kmposbl3 Days in Chicago and back home…https://mouthfuloffood.com/2018/09/23/3-days-in-chicago-and-back-home/
https://mouthfuloffood.com/2018/09/23/3-days-in-chicago-and-back-home/#commentsMon, 24 Sep 2018 03:22:42 +0000http://mouthfuloffood.com/?p=2670Whew! What. A. Weekend… How fast it went. I have just got through the door, ate a quick bite and brought in my bags and have gotten myself into position to go right to bed. Food, fun and, travel can wipe a person out. I am so excited to share with all of you all the exciting things I did this weekend. My sister who lives in Texas met me in Chicago. When we decided to make the trip we both created a to do list while in the windy city. We checked everything off on our list. Every place but, one place was somewhere that had food. No kidding. That’s all we wanted to do. Eat. Try new restaurants. See new things. How awesome was that?! Pretty awesome I must say. Even though we checked off visiting every place on our list. We did not eat at every single one. But, I will be back to eat at the ones I did not try this time.

Here is a list of all the food we tried this weekend:

pancakes

eggs

biscuits and gravy

hashbrowns

hummus and pita chips

vegan pita wrap

caramel cake

a german chocolate cake

peach cobbler cupcake

double chocolate cupcake

birthday cake cupcake

red velvet cupcake

apple pie empanadas

pierogis

fried chicken

mac & cheese

sweet potatoes

collard greens

cornbread

polenta potato cake

vegan fish tacos

vegan biscuit

I think that’s about it… Oh, I did get some popcorn from Garret’s and Nuts on Clark… We will talk about all of this later… I need to repent for all this gluttoness sin I committed this weekend.

A full review is coming this week. Stay tuned.a

Kim Cherie

#septemberwritingchallenge

day23

]]>https://mouthfuloffood.com/2018/09/23/3-days-in-chicago-and-back-home/feed/1kmposblI’m sorry but, Donut Bar Detroit is not for me…..https://mouthfuloffood.com/2018/06/19/im-sorry-but-donut-bar-detroit-is-not-for-me/
https://mouthfuloffood.com/2018/06/19/im-sorry-but-donut-bar-detroit-is-not-for-me/#commentsTue, 19 Jun 2018 12:00:21 +0000http://mouthfuloffood.com/?p=2515Everyone has heard their mother say: If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all…. Today I am breaking that rule.

I don’t have a lot of nice things to say regarding my recent visit to Detroit Donut Bar in Southfield. I’ve been holding on to this post for over a week now because, it is something that I did not want to write about. Not like I just did not want to do it but, like: “Man!” “How do I nicely say to the WORLD; I didn’t like Donut Bar Detroit.”? I didn’t know.. I have thought about it since June 9th; the day I went there. There is no choice. I just have to say it. I have to give my honest opinion and, I’m gonna try not to take too long to do it.

So, my stop at the Donut Bar was not even planned. I had not even thought about it that day. My day started at 5:30 am baking 5 dozen of my famous chocolate chip cookies to deliver to an event in Southfield by 10am. I had several other stops to make while I was in the area and while I had not decided on what restaurant or food I would try out that day; I knew there would be at least food encounter before heading back home to Flint.

After I delivered my freshly baked cookies I decided to take the city streets to each place I needed to stop instead of the expressways hoping I would find something edibly interesting while completing my to do list. I drove east on 12 Mile Road, when I hit Southfield Road remembering exactly where I was!! The plaza that houses Donut Bar Detroit!!! I was so excited!!!!… Every time I had been close by in the past the place was either sold out or closed. But, today was my day….. I could buy however many I wanted and no one would ever know because, this was a solo trip. And by the way, let me just say I LOVE LOVE LOVE DONUTS… I know I say that about a lot of different foods but, I really love donuts! I mean there is an art to a good donut. Cake or Yeast, there is an art. You can’t just cut or make some round dough put a hole in it and top it with sugar and frosting and call it a LEGIT donut. NO YOU CAN NOT DO THAT!!! Not with this girl from Flint City… Not from the city where Donna’s Donuts and B & J’s Donuts get made…. Now those are donuts. Donna’s donuts are so good you don’t even regret what they are doing to your arteries, cholesterol or your waistline. What I had on that ill fated donut doomed Saturday was a crime on my taste buds.. I was robbed!! I was deceived!! I was forsaken by bad donuts!

I bought six. Yes six donuts. Don’t. Judge. Me…….I did not plan to eat them all but, I planned to taste them all. And, these were my picks:

Samoa

Fruity Pebbles

Plain Glazed

Salted Caramel

Chocolate Covered

And,Vegan Maple Walnut

I’m gonna save you all some time and some money.. The Vegan Maple Walnut was the best tasting one but, not by much.

To me what seems to be the premise at this “Donut” shop is they take a VERY basic yeast donut and cut them into circle, square or oblong donuts and top them with a variety of different things such as: Fruity Pebbles, Crushed Oreos, Reese’s PB Cups, Coconut and Caramel and other things to make them look DELICIOUS… And they do LOOK delicious. But that’s where it ends for me.

The best thing I can say about this place is that it is definitely trendy, the customer service was great, the place was clean and I liked the decor and set up. If I ever have to go back I can try the coffee. But wait; I don’t drink coffee.

Seven days is not enough…Taking on two Texas cities calls for at least one week in each city. Nothing in the Houston Area is quick and around the corner from what I can tell. Here are some notes/advisements I thought I could share when planning a big trip:

Do a lot of research on places of interest to you.

Create a daily to-do list and a plan of attack.

Map out destination locations and plan your tour according to distance and proximity. (If there are events, places, and restaurants of interest in the same or close area plan to see those on the day, permitting there is no conflict with dress code or other requirements.) Doing this will allow you and your companions to cover more ground in less time on your trip.

Start early in the day on your adventure.

Find out in-advance which places are difficult to get into, will most likely will have a wait, and/or requires pre purchasing tickets.

Parking? How much does it cost? Is it close to your event or destination?

Last but not least… If you are planning for public transportation such as Uber or Lyft verify that it these services are available in that area. (Trust me.)

**Following these pre planning steps should insure you and your accompaniment a smooth and successful time on your trip.**

Have you ever been to Central Market Gourmet Grocery Store?….This lovely place houses everything noteworthy for making your breakfast, lunch, dinner or event the best of the best. I love, love, love grocery stores… Not just any grocery stores though. I love the kind that inspire me to cook great food or try new ingredients because their ingredients look good enough to eat right there in the store. Isn’t that good looking food when you just want to create something delicious on the spot? From domestic and exotic produce like baby pineapples and kumquats and dragonfruits to cheeses of every flavor and texture, and $17 dollar jams and jellies too. (That is not a typo and I did not buy it. I wanted to though.) The meat department would make you flip it starts from one wall and ends on the other just for the fish and seafood and on the other side is the beef, pork and poultries and its wall to wall too!. Then there is the dried spices and herbs section, it is pretty cool to offer such a broad spectrum of flavors and be able to purchase just what you need. No need to buy a whole jar of anything there if you will never need it again or just want to sample it for your dish. You can just buy what you need. If lived in this area, Central Market Grocery and I would be on a first name basis.

The bakery section has an infinite number of baked goods and fresh breads ready to eat.

The Cheese section. That’s all I have to say about that. Cheese is everything.

Chef prepared hot foods and cold food selections.

Cooking Classes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Healthy Living Department

Housewares, Dinnerwares, and Cookwares

I could’ve stayed there for one full day, just creating ideas in my head….One day I will. Next time you’re in Texas look for Central Market. You won’t be sorry.

Central Markets shopping bag gives hints to all the awesomeness inside the store.
On Friday during my Houston/Austin Texas takeover we visited Bourdreaux’s a Cajun restaurant and bar. It was early evening and not very busy in the bar section so we sat there and ordered Frozen Hurricanes. I also ordered a basket of Hushpuppies with jalapeno’s. Hushpuppies are especially delicious when they are hot just out of the fryer… Bourdreaux’s served the fried cornbreads with butter. That was new for me. I eat butter always on cornbread, but never considered it for my hushpuppies.. I continued to think further on it. Why not honey butter or why not just honey? That would be delicious…. Savory hot fried cornbread rounds with honey or maybe even a good maple syrup?….. Ok, let me calm down…… I will have to try it at home……In the mean time these hushpuppies make the grade.

Frozen Hurricanes…..

From Boudreaux’s we ventured on to what is know as “The Flat” a Houston area bar/grill music venue. This hidden gem gave me a bohemian vibe just from the lighting and ambiance… The DJ kept the mood right with music that switched from Hip Hop to R & B without pause keeping us music lovers satisfied. It was still early evening and not a whole lot of patrons, but I appreciated the atmosphere and the beats. The outdoor patio area still had more to offer with the rhythmic sounds playing outside too. The perimeter was enclosed with wooden fencing and lined with planted trees and various greenery. Lighting the early night would be white lined lights. It was beautiful. This place was perfect for a girl like me who appreciates intimate music lounges. No disappointments here. Good music. Good people. Good Vibes.The Flat offers coffee options too I see!

The patio in the back of The Flat.
From the flat we Uber’ed to Cowboys and Indians. A Tex- In kitchen. Get it? A Texas, Indian Kitchen A blend of Texas American food with the flavors and spices of India is what the description advises. Cowboys and Indians offers a variety of dishes for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans too. Offering traditional burgers, fries, and salads and american desserts for the Cowboy appetites and if you desire Indian tastings you would be happy to see Butter Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Vindaloo, Beef Coconut Curry and more. Being semi full from the hushpuppies I decided to go with the Beef Samosa’s (flaky pastries filled with ground beef and onions). I opted out of the offered dipping sauce for traditonal barbeque sauce. Mi hermana (my sister) offered the no meat option of this same dish. Hers was filled with curried potatoes and peas. She also had the crispy fries.

Beef Samosa’s: Tasty!!
We sat outside in the covered patio section, the weather was threatening to rain and the sprinkles were beginining when we arrived but with the patio being covered there were no worries of being saturated by the water. So far I can say that I love the option of being able to dine outside at a lot of eateries. This is one my favorite things in Texas.

Me again, in the covered patio section of Cowboys and Indians.

Lastly on this weather perfect Friday night we made our final appearances for the evening at The Alley Kat bar. The music was pumping as soon as you hit the door. The source was unknown. People were enjoying the sounds, the drinks and each other. Out of all the places we checked out tonight, this place had the largest turnout. The Alley Kat was like a maze to me. There was an upstairs featuring live music, and a separate downstairs section with more music possibly coming from a sound system, and outdoor seating protected from the immediate outside. The best part of Alley Kat was the female singer. I did not catch her name and I am still disgruntle over it… I just remember her singing like Chrisette Michele covering an India Arie song. She was great. Her performance to me was definitely worth that stop.

Number one was done. Number 2 was getting checked off on Saturday, and number three I didn’t think was going to happen. Katrina was not interested in going to The Breakfast Klub which is quite a hike from the home base, you’re almost always guaranteed a wait and with limited hours of operation (so we thought) it was looking like a “no go”. I had given up on eating at the Zagat rated restaurant. While walking through the maze of The Alley Kat bar a sign was posted noting The Breakfast Klub is now open from 10pm-3am. YES! YES! YES!.. There’s still a chance!…… The Alley Kat sat right behind The Breakfast Klub. I was destined to be there after all….It was fate….. Again, so I thought. My belly had been feeling queasy and full since the Hurricanes and I could not even consider just doing just a tasting here; where they were once voted one of the best breakfasts across america. I wanted to have a full scale smorgasbord tasting. The menu boasts of pancakes, wings and waffles, katfish and grits, biscuits and gravy, eggs and more!!!! I am heartbroken. No Breakfast Klub for me. Not tonight. Not this trip….

Today I am recovered from my Hurricane belly. I miss those wings and waffles I haven’t met yet. I was so close…..Yet, so far.

Making the painful decision to abstain from breakfast for dinner; we decided to head to the homestead and prepare for tomorrow. Austin Texas our weekend adventure!

]]>https://mouthfuloffood.com/2017/06/16/my-unexpected-incredible-texas-food-tour-part-ii/feed/1img_1608-1kmposblimg_2318My Unexpected Incredible Texas Food Tour: Part Ihttps://mouthfuloffood.com/2017/06/02/my-unexpected-incredible-texas-food-tour-part-i/
https://mouthfuloffood.com/2017/06/02/my-unexpected-incredible-texas-food-tour-part-i/#commentsFri, 02 Jun 2017 07:13:41 +0000http://mouthfuloffood.com/?p=1293I’ve just recently returned from my first visit to Texas. I went by airplane to Houston to visit my sister for 1 whole week. This trip included my first plane ride since I was a 14 year old and, prior to that I had only flown once. I was a complete novice at this whole airport and airplane thing (buying tickets, picking a seat, paying for bags, checking in, printing a boarding pass)…. whew! Can’t someone put me to sleep and wake me when I arrive? No such luck with the help of an anesthesiologist though. I was fortunate enough to have worked over night before the flight. Sleep was in order after all once we reached flying altitude. I slept all but thirty minutes of the flight when the captain announced we were making our decent into Houston. Yes! I did it! I got on a plane and did not have to be sedated by choke-hold from air marshals due to my heightened anxieties.

This is me waiting to board the plane in Detroit after numerous delays.

The plane had a flat tire.

I got off the plane so excited… So excited to be on the ground, so excited to see my sister, her 2 dogs, and the city she decided to make her home 10 years ago. I am so extremely proud of her. She is such a self-starter, so driven, determined, and focused. In this one week she inspired me and motivated me without even trying.

My sister was waiting for me with this wonderful sign when I got off the plane.

So, upon my arrival to Houston we immediately wanted food. My sister drove us to Guadalajara Hacienda, a Mexican restaurant. I went there with my mind on one thing. QUESO and CHIPS… welp, mostly queso. I was hoping for a hot and spicy melted cheese bowl and warm chips. I didn’t even get that far. After they seated us in the beautiful outdoor patio section, we were greeted with red salsa, chips, and a white and green cream sauce they called “Creamy Cilantro”. Let me tell you, I was skeptical and hesitant to try it, but I’m so glad I did. The dip was served cold, flavored with cilantro and spicy jalapeño with a sour cream and mayonnaise base. This amazing dip closed all my thoughts of Queso cheese for the next few days. I ate all of that dip by myself and then requested more. The server was so generous he brought me enough for 2 days of snacks. Pure delight was my state of mind. It was so yummy? Why have I never had this before? Is this only available in the southern Mexican restaurants? Who know’s, but I have to learn how to make this at home…STAT! My sister and I enjoyed a delicious dinner after the chips and dips. All I have to say is Guadalajara Hacienda, I will be back!

I’m pretty sure I was hypnotized and could not think beyond my taste buds. Therefore, I do not have any optics for Creamy Cilantro…. Stay tuned for pictures of my copy cat version!

On day 2 in Houston we visited Ooh La La Dessert Boutique. Walking in I was immediately impressed with the ambiance of this place. It was a larger space for a bakery but, not too big. There is enough space for both hungry customers waiting to make a to-go purchase and for customers who want to sit and enjoy their tempting treats in store. The food cases enclosed tall layer cakes, cheesecakes, creme’ brûlées, cookies, and cupcakes of all different flavors. Also on the menu were coffee drinks and lemonade. I decided to order 2 cupcakes, Nilla Nilla (vanilla) and Bunny Boo (carrot). My only disappointment occurred when I ordered my Bunny Boo cupcake. I very clearly asked if there were nuts in the cupcake. The young man said no nuts were in the cake. Turns out there were nuts hiding inside there. The cake was tender, moist and a pinch spicy…… with nuts. I was deceived. Anyhow, I ate around the nuts and then advised the same young man; indeed there were nuts in the cupcake and had I had a food allergy, that could have been very hazardous. I took my other cupcake home for later.

Bunny Boo Cupcakes with Cream Cheese IcingTasty carrot cupcake after the first bite.

After I had my event with the life threatening carrot cupcake, we drove to another part of town for lunch. Crab cakes for me. Sushi for my sister, Katrina. All I have to say about this stop is she is the winner of picking the right entrée/sushi roll. A vegetable tempura roll with fried asparagus and sweet potato rolled and topped with tempura served with wasabi and ginger. It was tastier than my crab cakes. I wished I ordered it….. Whomp, whomp….. Don’t look back on your past Kim, you’re not going that way.

On to the next…..cupcakes!

Sprinkles Cupcakes! Cupcakes, Pupcakes, and Ice Cream too!!!Sprinkles may I please have four more cupcakes to go! In this box at least…..

Our last and final stop of physical face stuffing for the day ended in cupcake heaven. It’s not named that, but that’s what I’ll call it….Yes we hit 2 cupcake bars in one day. So what? Who’s counting the cupcakes anyway? (I think I bought 7 total between the 2 shops. But, that’s between you and me.) Sister had told me about this cupcake shop named Sprinkles that offered delicious cupcakes including a vegan Red Velvet cupcake and a traditional version too. I accepted the challenge. I’ll take the vegan Red Velvet the traditional Red Velvet and raise you 4 more various cupcakes. This Houston location has a small store front with what looks like a very large kitchen in the back. In the display case at Sprinkles you will see cupcakes, pupcakes and, happiness all around. I was totally absorbed in this place with a self titled theme song playing in the background that I did not hear the retail associate talking to me….. I only remember placing my order for our cupcakes and paying for them before I heard the words that have me contemplating my life’s meaning….. “The cupcake ATM is in the back.” Wait. What did she just say? The associate was talking to someone else but the words were meant for me. She said it again. “It’s open 24-7.” I wasn’t dreaming. I must see this on demand cupcake deployment machine, NOW! My sister probably thought I was having a mental breakdown at this point, as I say “Please drive me around to the ATM.”…..And, there is was: A true story. Cupcake heaven for sure. Magic in a box. A cupcake ATM.

This is not a drill!! A cupcake ATM is a real thing. We are at DEF CON 1. DEF CON 1. Cupcakes prepare to be annihilated……..

So, you know I had to use it. I did. I didn’t need any more cupcakes to take home with me. I saw a nice lady coming by the ATM and offered to buy her one to see how it worked. She accepted. I ordered the flavor of her choosing by touch screen, paid with a debit card and watched it work. Neatly placed in a brown cardboard box for 1, it came down the ATM and laid flatly on the surface ready to for consumption.

All I want to know is who is the genius behind this awesomeness? Is it possible to get one installed at any address? (Asking for a friend.)

How is this happening?….. Push a button and dessert comes out?…. This is the end of life as we know it, to say the least.

After I got home and calmed down from all the excitement, I was able to test my Red Velvets. The traditional cake was yummy moist red cake with light notes of chocolate with cream cheese icing. Again, I was impressed. Testing the vegan version was the true test though. For months I have been hearing about this vegan alternative and how delicious it is. It was my turn to judge it. With skepticism swirling around my taste buds. I took a bite and thought “this can’t be right”. “Let’s try that again.” The same exact deliciousness I received from the first bite is what I got again. Fresh moist red cake with hints of cocoa with a vegan cream cheese icing…..You know what? I like it better than the traditional Red Velvet. Who knew?

Vegan Cupcake on the left. Traditional Red Velvet on the right.

The first two days of my Texas adventure were already winners. How could it get any better?…. Just wait, because it does.